Dewayne White looking to 2011

Monday is Election Day in the Lions locker room.

And the incumbent is busy reminding his constituents that D-Day isn't far off, either.

Defensive end Dewayne White is the acting union rep for the Lions, who'll officially elect their NFL Players Association representative next week. An alternate to receiver Mike Furrey last season, White says he's ready to take on a larger -- and more important -- role as the players' union and the league brace for a labor showdown. The NFL's current collective bargaining agreement expires in 2011.

"It's a whisper -- it's like a faint whisper in the air," said White, whose primary responsibility these days is making sure his teammates -- especially the younger ones -- are listening. "They're living for now, but it's not even two years -- it's 15-16 months from now -- where we could be sitting at home wondering, 'When are we gonna get back on the field?' As that gets closer and closer, there'll be more and more questions and concerns. Just like anything else, people procrastinate."

But with NFL owners seemingly united by their desire to scale back the players' 60-percent share of league revenue, and new union boss DeMaurice Smith standing defiant, a work stoppage in 2011 is more than just a faint possibility.

The league has its rich TV contracts in place through 2013, and the union is preparing its own war chest, with players paying additional dues and being instructed to save for a rainy day. The NFLPA's so-called "25-25" program suggests stashing 25 percent of their take-home pay the next two seasons in case of a lockout.

"Definitely, it's very important that we can rally the guys in this locker room to understand what could happen if we're all locked out," White said. "And what needs to take place and what they need to do in their own personal lives, in case it does happen."

Making an impression

Running back Tristan Davis found a home on the Lions' practice squad barely two weeks after the undrafted free agent out of Auburn was signed. And in a league where chances are fleeting, the fleet-footed Davis took advantage of his.

He had seven carries for 112 yards in two exhibition games, highlighted by a 79-yard touchdown run in the finale at Buffalo.

"It was my only chance," said Davis, who excelled mostly as a return man in college. "I knew that I had to make an impression, and I knew that last preseason game I had to give the coaches something that was gonna stick with them. It was a first impression, and almost a last impression.

"My phone came off the hook (after the game.) Friends were telling me it was already uploaded on YouTube before we even got in the air flying back to Detroit."

The phone rang that weekend, too, as his agent heard from New England and Jacksonville, among others, wanting to sign Davis as a practice-squad player. But he opted to stay with the Lions in that role.

"It just felt like it would be a good place for me to grow and learn a little bit more about football," he said.

"If you don't learn anything, you can be in and out faster than you got here."

By the numbers

.150 Lions winning percentage vs. Minnesota since 1999 (3-17 record)

8 Runs of 50-plus yards for the Vikings' Adrian Peterson in 31 NFL games.

127.1 Brett Favre's passer rating in his last game at Ford Field (Thanksgiving 2007)

Block party

Including Dewayne White's blocked field goal in last week's opener at New Orleans, the Lions have blocked 23 kicks or punts since 2001, most in the NFL:

Running man

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has topped the 100-yard mark in three of his four games against the Lions:

2007

2008

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